Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Face No. 16/20 Nebraska Friday
5/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State (34-17) will open its record 30th NCAA appearance with the No. 16/20 Nebraska Cornhuskers (39-12) on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in game one of the Stanford Regional.
This is the Dogs' third trip to Palo Alto for an NCAA Regional after visits in 2004 and 2007.
2011 Fresno State NCAA Softball Tournament Center
2011 Fresno State NCAA Stanford Regional Notes (PDF) 
Bulldogs Sports Six Top 25 Wins, including Pair Over Big 12 Foes
On the season, Fresno State is 34-17 with six victories over teams ranked in the Top 25 for a 6-4 mark against nationally ranked opponents, including a 3-1 win over now-No. 2/2 Michigan, 6-3 win over then-No. 8/10 Missouri and a 4-3 win over then-No. 19/18 Oklahoma State.
• Fresno State 3, No. 5/6 Michigan 1 [March 19, 2011]
• Fresno State 6, No. 8/10 Missouri 3 [February 18, 2011]
• Fresno State 4, No. 19/18 Oklahoma State 3 [February 25, 2011]
• Fresno State 5, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 0 [April 1, 2011]
• Fresno State 2, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 1 [April 2, 2011]
• Fresno State 2, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 0 [April 2, 2011]
2011 NCAA Stanford Regional
Dates: May 20-22, 2011
Site: Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Radio: 790 AM ESPN (Stephen Trembley/Guy Haberman)
Stats: www.gobulldogs.com (Gametracker)
Schedule of Games:
Friday, May 20
3 p.m. Game 1 - #2 seed Nebraska vs. #3 seed Fresno State
6 p.m. Game 2 - #1 seed Stanford vs. #4 seed Pacific
Saturday, May 21
12 p.m. Game 3 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
3 p.m. Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
6 p.m. Game 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Sunday, May 22 1:30 p.m. Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
4 p.m. Game 7 - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary)
PREVIEW: 2011 NCAA Softball Stanford Regional Opponents
• No. 11/12 Stanford Cardinal [Pac 10] (No. 1 Regional Seed / #15 National Seed)
- Stanford earned an NCAA at-large bid out of the Pac 10 Conference with a 38-15 record
- Fresno State leads the all-time series with Stanford, 15-12
• No. 16/20 Nebraksa Huskers [Big 12] (No. 2 Regional Seed)
- Nebraska earned an NCAA at-large bid out of the Big 12 Conference with a 39-12 record
- Fresno State leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 12-7
• Pacific Tigers [Big West Champion] (No. 4 Regional Seed)
- Pacific earned an NCAA automatic bid as the Big West champion with a 37-17 record
- Fresno State leads the all-time series with Pacific, 78-22-1
- Pacific edged Fresno State 5-4 in 11 innings on April 5 in Stockton, Calif.
DOG WATCH: Bulldogs Climbing into Record Books
• Haley Gilleland is Fresno State's all-time stolen base leader (85) & 26-for-29 this year
• Haley Gilleland is a stolen base away from tying the single season school record (27)
• Haley Gilleland is fifth all-time in the WAC in stolen bases (85) - four shy of fourth
• Michelle Moses is second all-time at Fresno State in career home runs (41)
• Three Bulldogs (Angene, Moses and Stiglich) have hit grand slams this season
Fresno State Holds Record for 30 NCAA Tournament Appearances
Fresno State is the nation's only program to have qualified for all 30 NCAA Tournaments in the Division I sport's history. The Bulldogs have appeared in 12 of the 29 NCAA Women's College World Series and secured the school's first Division I national championship in 1998.
Fresno State is One of the Nation's Elite Programs
• Margie Wright is the all-time winningest Division I fastpitch head softball coach (1,420)
• Margie Wright won her 1,400th career game on March 15 with a 3-2 win over Bradley
• Fresno State won its 1,500th career game on March 10 with a 1-0 win over Idaho State
• Fresno State is in its 34th year with an overall record of 1,523-545-1 (.737) since 1978
• Fresno State is the nation's second-best all-time winningest NCAA Division I softball fastpitch program with a 1,441-487-1 (.748) record since 1982 --- behind Arizona and ahead of UCLA, Florida State, Cal State Fullerton, La.-Lafayette, California and Oklahoma.
• Fresno State is the nation's only program to qualify for every NCAA Tournament (30)
• Fresno State has made 16 national television appearances, including once this year
Gilleland Swiped First WAC Hitter of the Week Honor, 84 & Counting
The speed of senior shortstop Haley Gilleland cemented itself in the Bulldog career record books. Gilleland is already Fresno State's all-time career leader for stolen bases (84) after going 26-for-29. As the leadoff hitter, she is batting (.301; 50-for-166) with a team-high seven doubles. Gilleland also has scored 30 runs, owns 16 RBI and drawn 16 walks. For her efforts at the Cathedral City Classic, she earned her first career WAC Hitter of the Week honor by going 5-for-11 (.455) with three runs, a pair of doubles, five RBI and two stolen bases.
True Triple Threat Moses One of West Region's Top Performers
Junior right-handed pitcher and first baseman Michelle Moses is one of the West Region's best pitchers, hitters and defenders. On Opening Day, she recorded the first cycle in program history. The triple threat continues to improve her game and blasted three home runs in the first three games of the season. In 2011, she is batting .261 with a team-best 12 home runs, six doubles, a .562 slugging percentage, 28 runs scored, 39 RBI and 86 total bases.
Moses Named Two-Time WAC Hitter of the Week in 2011
Junior Michelle Moses earned two WAC Hitter of the Week honors this season. The first came after she hit for the cycle and batted 6-for-8 (.750) with two home runs, a triple, a double, four RBI, three runs scored and a 1.875 slugging percentage on Opening Day. She earned the second for powering a WAC road sweep at Utah State with three home runs, including her third career grand slam, a RBI triple for one of her nine RBI and scored six runs.
Moses Earned WAC Pitcher of the Week Honors
Junior Michelle Moses tossed her first career no-hitter and propelled Fresno State to a sweep of then-No. 20/25 Hawai'i and 6-0 start to WAC play. In the series, Moses went 2-0 with the no-hitter, a pair of complete game shutouts, 13 strikeouts, a two-inning save of perfect relief and tossed 16.0 innings of scoreless ball to extend Fresno State's win streak to seven.
Oakes Honored as Back-to-Back WAC Pitcher of the Week
Earlier this season, junior pitcher Mackenzie Oakes earned back-to-back WAC Pitcher of the Week honors. In the first week, Oakes recorded a 3-0 record over three starts with a 0.67 earned run average to lead Fresno State to wins over No. 5/6 Michigan (3-1), Illinois (3-2) and Bradley (3-2). In the second week, Oakes went 2-0 with a 0.44 earned run average in a pair of complete-game road wins over the Lady Techsters (2-0 and 2-1 in nine innings).
Ortiz Named Top Female Newcomer & George Ilg Award Winner
Brooke Ortiz was honored as Fresno State's top female newcomer during the department's annual Night of Champions. As a starting freshman infielder and versatile left-handed slapper, her speed and power make her a threat to score every time she steps to the plate. Ortiz also excels in the classroom and made the President's List last fall with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Stiglich Slugs Fourth Career Grand Slam, Closing in on Clark
Senior catcher/first baseman Caitlin Stiglich provides steady experience behind the plate in her fourth season as the Bulldogs' catcher. In the Dogs' 7-5 win over six-time defending A-10 champion UMass, Stiglich smashed the eventual game winner with her fourth career grand slam to move within a one of tying Christina Clark's program record of five grand slams.
Bulldogs Blasting Home Runs with Purpose
The Bulldogs set a program record in 2010 with 51 home runs. This season, Fresno State has recorded 31 home runs off the bats of seven different Bulldogs.
Fresno State 2011 Home Run Leaders
• Michelle Moses: 12 HRs (1GS) (41 career home runs / 3 career grand slams)
• Nicole Angene: 6 HRs (1 GS) (17 career home runs / 1 career grand slam)
• Andrea Ortega: 4 HRs (11 career home runs)
• Courtney Moore: 3 HRs (10 career home runs)
• Caitlin Stiglich: 3 HRs (1GS) (22 career home runs / 4 career grand slams*)
• Demi Walker: 2 HRs (2 career home runs)
• Rebecca Walker: 1 HR (2 career home runs)
*Note: Caitlin Stiglich is one grand slam from tying Christina Clark's school record (5)
Dogs Power Past Then-No. 8 Missouri, Smash Three Home Runs
The Fresno State softball team blasted three home runs and played spectacular defense despite a steady swirling wind and late game rain to beat then-No. 8/10 Missouri 6-3 at the San Diego State Softball Stadium. Junior Michelle Moses earned her first victory in the circle of the year with her 12th career complete game and blasted the game-winning three-run home run. The Bulldogs are now 9-0 all-time against the Tigers. Missouri had run-ruled then-No. 22 San Diego State 9-1 and advanced to the 2010 Women's College World Series.
Fresno State Finished Sweep, Downed Then-No. 19 Oklahoma State
The Fresno State softball team made another emphatic statement on the first day of the Cathedral City Classic with a 4-3 win over No. 19 Oklahoma State and a 4-1 victory over the ACC's Virginia in the prestigious Cathedral City Classic. No. 19 Oklahoma State was the second team ranked in the Top 20 that the Bulldogs beat in an eight-day span. Rebecca Hall's spark of a four-run second inning proved to be enough after senior Haley Gilleland smoked a two-run double to the left field fence for the game winning double.
Bulldogs Beat No. 5/6 Michigan with Explosive Inning, Oakes' Gem
The Bulldogs' bats erupted in an explosive fourth inning rally to blaze by No. 5/6 Michigan 3-1 in their Judi Garman Classic finale on Saturday morning. After Michigan scored an unearned run in the first, Fresno State's first baseman Michelle Moses started the fireworks with a solo home run in the fourth. Junior Mackenzie Oakes tossed a gem and contained a potent Wolverine offense to register her second win in a two-day span over a Big Ten opponent.
Bulldogs Record 5-1 Mark Against 2010 WCWS Schools in 2011
In 2011, Fresno State recorded a 5-1 record against three schools that participated in the 2010 Women's College Series. The Dogs beat then-No. 8/10 Missouri 6-3 in the SD Classic I before losing to then-No. 4/4 Washington 10-0 (6) during the Judi Garman Classic. In the final four games, Fresno State swept then-No. 20/25 Hawai'i (5-0, 2-1, 2-0 and 2-1).
Runge Honored as NFCA Scholar-Athlete
The academic excellence of Fresno State's sophomore Diane Runge (4.0 cumulative GPA) earned national recognition as a 2009-10 National FastPitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete to mark the 29th time a Bulldog softball student-athlete earned the distinction.
ESPNU Shines Spotlight on the Bulldogs
After the Bulldogs' 4-3 win against then-No. 19 Oklahoma State on Feb. 25 in Cathedral City, Fresno State's Haley Gilleland, Michelle Moses and Mackenzie Oakes taped segments with ESPNU for 2011 national softball coverage. Bulldog head coach Margie Wright, the NCAA's all-time winningest Division I fastpitch softball coach, was interviewed on her career, the program and current topics affecting the sport of softball. Fresno State also made a national television appearance as Michelle Moses no-hit Hawai'i for a 5-0 win on April 1.
Four Bulldogs Named All-WAC After Second Place Finish
Four Bulldogs - Michelle Moses, Andrea Ortega, Nicole Angene and Brooke Ortiz - earned All-Western Athletic Conference recognition for their performances in conference action. Moses and Ortega were tabbed by the conference's head coaches as first-team All-WAC recipients while Angene and Ortiz received second-team All-WAC recognition.
Fresno State Continues to Perform as the WAC's Premier Program
With its strong commitment to premier athletic competition and academic performance, Fresno State finished second in the 2009-10 Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup standings and remained the best program throughout the eight years of the award. Since the 2002-03 academic year when the Cup race started, Fresno State has scored a WAC-best 679.5 points for an average of 84.94 points per academic year. The Bulldogs rank first among the current WAC institutions with an average finish of 2.375, ahead of Boise State (3.63) and Nevada (3.88) as the top three WAC schools. Fresno State is also one of two repeat Cup winners (2007-08 & 2008-09), along with Rice University (2003-04 & 2004-05).
Welty Accepts Dogs' Invitation to Join Mountain West Conference
President John D. Welty announced this summer that Fresno State accepted an invitation to become a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs will leave the Western Athletic Conference after the 2012 softball season to compete against Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV. Boise State will move from the WAC to the MWC in 2011 while Nevada will move with Fresno State for the 2013 season.
"We Are You Team!" - Fresno State will head to its NCAA record 30th postseason tournament May 20-22 for the Stanford Regional. You can always stay connected with Fresno State Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@FSAthletics).
